Williamson's Sapsucker
Photo by Earle Robinson

Just when the heat in the Valley was becoming more than unbearable, I ran away to take part in the Campout sponsored by the White Mountain Audubon Society. This event takes place annually the third weekend of June, this year from the 20th to the 22nd. The very enthusiastic and friendly hosts this year were Jimmy and Lorraine Videle.

Eighteen people, representing several Audubon Societies from around the State, participated. Most chose to camp, a few preferred the comforts of a nearby motel. The camping spot, located off a well-maintained dirt road, FR 117, near the Sunrise area, was idyllic and secluded. The meadow had a running spring as well as a pond, providing ample opportunities to observe both the birds and the many colorful butterflies that came to the water.

The many stands of trees around the area were home to several breeding species. Even as I was just setting up my tent I discovered that Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were busily feeding young in the trees above and near my tent. The lush greenery and colorful flowers around the camp area provided a welcome relief from the suffering brown, dry vegetation of home.

The weather in the evening was nippy, and I was more than happy to bundle up in my tent. In the morning the temperature read 47 degrees, quite a change from the sweltering heat from which I was so glad to escape.

Because of a constant wind most of the weekend, we did not get several of our target species. However no one seemed to mind, because we were able to spend a lot of time enjoying the several species breeding in the area. One of the favorites was a family of Williamson's Sapsuckers, mom, dad and several youngsters. This group kept us entertained the entire weekend.

On Saturday most of us piled into the van provided by our hosts and headed to Winema Wildlife Area, an area acquired by Arizona Game and Fish for the water rights and to protect native fish. The birding there is outstanding due to the variety of vegetation and lovely riparian area. Located in a canyon of the Little Colorado River, Junipers and grasses cover the canyon sides. Walnut trees, wild rose, wild grape, and many other shrubs grow at the canyon and field edges. The species observed by the group on the road to Winema and at Winema included Mountain Bluebird, Horned Lark, American Kestrel, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-breasted Chat, Cliff Swallow, Lesser Goldfinch, Bleak-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Northern Flicker, Golden Eagle, and others

Next we headed to try our luck at finding some of the montane species at Camp Montlure, a private church camp. The area was beautiful, the hike refreshing, but due to the rather high winds the birds made themselves very scarce, and we felt lucky to see a House Wren and hear a Canyon Wren. Several attempts to get a glimpse of the American Dipper there and at several other spots in the area proved to be futile.

On Saturday evening, by an imaginary campfire, two speakers from the Apache-Sitgraves National Forest gave interesting and thought-provoking talks. One presented the state of grazing in the area. The other discussed the different approaches to fire management and control in the area focusing especially on the Rodeo-Chedeski fire. The only few sparks that flew were created by the differences of opinions among us.

On Sunday morning we had another walk around the camp area, which is close to Burnt MillsSpring. Once more due to the wind, the birds were difficult to spot. We did manage Western Bluebird, Western Tanager, Dark-eyed Junco, Pigmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, among others.

Prong-horned Antelope were yet another highlight of the weekend, especially one neonate and his mother standing in the middle of a very large field. All of us hoped the baby would not become lunch for the Golden Eagle soaring above.

I would like to extend special thanks to Jimmy and Lorraine for such a wonderful experience. I highly recommend this trip to everyone, campers and non-campers alike. I so enjoyed the area I returned in August. However, due to the stormy weather, camped with my dog at the Motel 6 in Show Low. The White Mountain Audubon Society has invaluable extensive information on its website on birding in the area, making it easy for me not only to return to some of the spots I had visited on the weekend, but to explore several other fantastic, breathtaking locations.